Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME) Director O. Gene
Dishner hasannounced his re-tirement from
state service. In a distinguished public service career that has spanned nearly
38 years, the Scott County, Virginia native is known for his skill in creating
organizations and has been called upon to lead the reorganization of two state
government agencies.
Virginia's Governor Mark Warner recognized Dishner's
problem-solving abilities and effective leadership. "Gene has been an
innovative leader in public management and initiated the first ongoing strategic
management planning in Virginia state government as Director of the Housing and
Community Development and Mines, Minerals and Energy agencies," said
Governor Warner. "These efforts led to DMME winning three U.S. Senate
Productivity and Quality Awards, including the prestigious Medallion of
Excellence and Award for Continuing Excellence."
Dishner served as Scott County's first administrator from
1968 to 1978. He was selected by the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of
Public Administrators in 1975 as Outstanding Public Administrator. The award
recognized his application of modern methods and technology to the needs of a
rural county in areas such as refuse collection and disposal, accounting,
purchasing, computer use, flood forecasting, and emergency services.
In 1978, Dishner was appointed as the first director of the
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development where he successfully
merged diverse programs into an effective agency. While there he directed the
development of a major new local government-funding program, the Community
Development Block Grant Program.
When DMME was formed in 1985, Dishner was asked to consider
heading the new agency, and was appointed that year. Through his leadership, the
agency redirected and reorganized its regulatory divisions to provide better
service and strengthen management controls. Virginia's mine safety and
reclamation programs have received national recognition, leading the nation in
electronic permitting processes and the digital mapping of surface and
underground coal mine workings.
According to information gathered and published by the
Richmond Times Dispatch on June 22, 2002, "Gene Dishner... is the
longest-serving gubernatorial appointee, period.... and (typifies) the
commendable civil servant who - in this hour of calculated political
appointments - has demonstrated a party-transcending commitment to serving the
Commonwealth."
Commerce and Trade Secretary Michael J. Schewel agrees with
this assessment in Dishner's long tenure at DMME. "Gene is the rare
self-effacing leader who has the confidence to hire great people, sell them on
his vision and his strategic management style, and then get out of their way as
they execute that strategy," said Secretary Schewel. cl

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